Modular pressure balanced valve assembly

Abstract

A mixing valve includes the volume control valve, a pressure proportioning valve, and a thermostatic valve assembly within a single modular housing. The housing is rotatably mounted in a valve body. The housing houses the proportioning valve and the thermostatic control valve. Rotation of the housing controls the total volumetric flow from the supply inlets of the valve plate at the end of the housing. The thermostatic control valve includes a pivotable lever which has a spring seated at one side and a thermally responsive wax element at the other side with the fulcrum of the lever between the spring and wax element. Control handles are mounted at the end of the valve to independently control the volume and the temperature. An annular discharge chamber surrounds the housing section which houses the proportioning valve. The discharge chamber is in fluid communication to an outlet which is located at the same end of the valve body as the hot and cold water inlet supply lines.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A mixing valve characterized by: a body having first and second supply ports and an outlet;   a pivotally mounted lever having valving surfaces and pivotally mounted about a fulcrum with respect to said body to restrict and adjust relative flow through said ports;   means for controlling the pivotable position of said lever and said valving surfaces for controlling the relative flow through the first and second supply ports;   said means for controlling said pivotal position of said lever including a post operably engaging said lever at a position spaced from said fulcrum of said lever; and   handle means operably connected to said post to operably move said post thereby pivoting said lever.   
     
     
       2. A mixing valve as defined in claim 1 further characterized by: said handle means including a rotatable cam that axially adjusts the position of said post.   
     
     
       3. A mixing valve as defined in claim 1 further characterized by: a housing incorporating said first and second inlets and pivotably mounting said lever;   said housing being rotatable in said body to slidably move said inlets over first and second supply ports in said body between an open position and closed position;   said housing having first and second passage leading to said pivotably mounted lever with said lever having one section forming a valve for a downstream end of said first and second passage.   
     
     
       4. A mixing valve as defined in claim 3 further characterized by: a proportioning valve means mounted in said housing for proportioning the flow through said first and second passages in response to the pressures in the first and second supply ports, said proportioning valve means being positioned between said inlets and said downstream ends of said passages.   
     
     
       5. A mixing valve as defined in claim 4 further characterized by: an annular discharge chamber in said body with said chamber surrounding said housing and being in fluid communication with said outlet in said housing and said outlet in said body.   
     
     
       6. A mixing valve as defined in claim 4 further characterized by: said housing having a lower section housing said proportioning valve means, and an upper section receiving said lever and defining a mixing chamber;   said upper housing defining at least in part said outlet of said housing; and   said upper section being non-rotatably connected to said lower section for rotation therewith.   
     
     
       7. A mixing valve as defined in claim 6 further characterized by: an annular discharge chamber in said body with said chamber surrounding said lower section of said housing and being in fluid communication with said outlet in said housing and said outlet in said body.   
     
     
       8. A mixing valve as defined in claim 1, further characterized by: said valving surfaces each being laterally spaced relative to said fulcrum on said lever, and said post also being laterally spaced with respect to said fulcrum.   
     
     
       9. A mixing valve as recited in claim 8, further characterized by: a spring member operably engaging said lever at a position laterally spaced from said fulcrum on the opposite side of said lever from said means for controlling said pivotal position of said lever.   
     
     
       10. A mixing valve as recited in claim 1, further characterized by: a spring member operably engaging said lever at a position spaced from said fulcrum on the opposite side of said lever from said means for controlling said pivotal position of said lever.   
     
     
       11. A mixing valve as defined in claim 1, further characterized by: different temperature fluids being provided in said first and second supply ports, the pivotal position of said lever supplying predetermined quantities of fluid from said first and second supply ports to a mixing chamber, said means for controlling said pivotal position including a manually adjustable means for indicating a desired temperature, and further including means responsive to the actual temperature of the fluid in the mixing chamber to further adjust the pivotal position of said lever.